Child Constipation
What is Constipation?
It is defined as:
- Firm or hard pallet like stools
- Infrequent & long interval with difficulty to expel
- Hard consistency is the important factor.
Incidence-
Constipation is more common in young children. Dietary constipation is seen in children of age group 8-9 months to 5-6 years.
Symptoms of constipated child
- Stomach ache
- Fecal incontinence
- Soiling under clothes
- Refusal to go to the bathroom
- Hard Stools
- Holding back bowel movement
- Squatting
- Crossing legs
- Clenching buttocks
- Red face
Important Causes and Treatment Of Constipation
Organic Causes
Dietary factors
Constipation is caused by a combination of
- High-fat diet
- Low fiber diet
- Drinking too much of whole milk
- Eating lots of other dairy products
- Not eating fruits & vegetables
- Eating chocolates and biscuits
Treatment:
- Avoid chocolates, biscuits, and excess of milk
- Give toilet training to your child
- Add high fiber diet
Anatomic Malformation:
- Anatomic Malformation are birth defects in which the anus & rectum do not develop properly (Anus is not present at its normal position)
Diagnosis:
- Local examination
- Abdominal X-Rays, Invertogram / Lateral prone shoot
- Abdominal ultrasound
Treatment:
- Staged Surgeries / PSARP
Hirschsprung’s disease
Absence of parasympathetic ganglion cells in myenteric & submucosal plexus of the rectum extending into the colon up to a variable extent
Diagnosis:
- Raised W BC count
- Abdominal X-Rays
- Barium Enema
- Anorectal Manometry
- Full-thickness rectal biopsy
Treatment:
- Surgery ( Transanal pull-through)
- Toilet training
- Proper dietary counseling
Other causes
- Anal stenosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Prune belly Syndrome
- Down Syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypokalemia
- Hypermagnesemia
- Adrenal Insufficiency
Drugs
- Opiates
- Antacids
- Antihypertensives
- Anticholinergics
- Antidepressants
Non Organic Causes
- Incorrect Toilet Training
- Toilet Phobia
- School Bathroom Avoidance
- Excessive Parental Intervention
- Depression
Services provided at Dhanvantari Hospital ( Constipation Clinic )
- Identification of the cause and its treatment
- Proper dietary Counselling
- Toilet Training
